What's Cooking in Region 1 - May 2004
by Marghretta McBean

It's Taurus Time!!! That special season when spring is truly established, Venus is high in the heavens and yet another year is added to mi vida loca. The happiest of birthdays to all of you fellow bulls, and particularly to Oleg Bayborodin, Lorenzo Perez, and Frank Solensky of Boston Mensa; Walter Galanek, Kenneth Garee, Jeffrey Kochosky, and Jack Peregrim of Connecticut/Western Massachusetts Mensa; KevinThompson and Salvatore Negri of Greater New York Mensa; Marvin Murdock of New Hampshire/Maine Mensa; Alex Peters, Stacy Statkus, and Harvey Nisselson of Northern New Jersey Mensa; Joseph Rapczak of Rhode Island Mensa; and Jacques DuPuis of Vermont Mensa - you all share that Best Birthday Of All: May7th! Many, many Happy Returns!

May is also the month to salute mothers. As we mothers all know, Mother's Day is every day of the year - one never stops being a mommy. The changing joys are what make it worthwhile: sleeping through the night, first day of school, college graduation, first job - all road marks that a mother treasures. Although the definition of mother is being constantly stretched - "birth" vs. "egg donor" vs. "parental" - acknowledgment to our X gene donors is in order, and to those (if not of the former group) who are related to us by love and devotion.

People often pronounce my name "mar-gar-ita" or "mar-guer-eet". My standard response is "I'm neither a drink nor a flower". (My name is pronounced "mar-gret-tah"). However, I do enjoy the (almost) eponymous drink and here's my version:

Marghretta Margarita
(makes enough to get the party started: 1 1/2 quarts)

1. Combine all ingredients and stir well.
2. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
3. Pour into margarita glasses over ice. Garnish with raspberries.